Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. Adults Don’t Have a Will

PR Newswire

SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Only 42% of U.S. adults currently have estate planning documents such as a will or living trust, according to a new Caring.com report. The percentage is even lower among those with children under age 18 (36%). Click here for more information:

https://www.caring.com/articles/wills-survey-2017

As age increases, it's more likely that someone has estate planning documents. Just one in five millennials (ages 18-36) has a will or living trust. For Generation X (37-52 year-olds), the figure is 36%, and it's 58% for Baby Boomers (ages 53-71). A whopping 81% of those in the Silent Generation (age 72+) have a will or living trust.

Among those who don't have estate documents, the main reasons are: "I just haven't gotten around to it" (47%) and "I don't have enough assets to leave to anyone" (29%).

Medical/healthcare powers of attorney are more common than wills/living trusts. 53% of U.S. adults have granted someone legal authorization to make decisions on their medical care if they are unable to do so. The likelihood increases with age, from 41% of millennials to 83% of the Silent Generation.

"It's not just a concern for older people – everyone who is 18 or older should have a healthcare power of attorney," said Caring.com vice president Katie Roper. "If your college-age son or daughter, God forbid, were seriously injured in a car accident, you as the parent could not even find out they were in the hospital, let alone discuss their condition with physicians, without this document in place."

Republicans, Democrats and independents are all essentially as likely to have healthcare powers of attorney (55%, 53% and 54%, respectively). There's a big difference when it comes to wills, however. 58% of Republicans have one versus just 38% of Democrats and 37% of independents.

The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. PSRAI obtained telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,003 adults living in the continental United States. Interviews were conducted by landline (502) and cell phone (501, including 312 without a landline phone) in English and Spanish by Princeton Data Source from January 19-22, 2017. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

About Caring.com:

With three million visitors per month, Caring.com is a leading senior care resource for family caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. A Bankrate company headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., Caring.com provides helpful caregiving content, online support groups, and a comprehensive Senior Care Directory for the United States, with nearly 150,000 consumer ratings and reviews and a toll-free senior living referral line at (800) 325-8591. Connect with Caring.com on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and/or YouTube.

For more information:

Ted RossmanPublic Relations Director
[email protected]
(917) 368-8635

Nearly six in 10 U.S. adults don't have a will